{"id":6457,"date":"2026-01-08T10:39:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/?p=6457"},"modified":"2026-01-08T11:22:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T11:22:37","slug":"the-2026-sustainable-solutions-challenge-starts-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/2026\/01\/08\/the-2026-sustainable-solutions-challenge-starts-now\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Sustainable Solutions Challenge Starts NOW!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:53px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Academy9 Sustainable Solutions Challenge kicks off on the 19th of January 2026! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Want to get involved? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Academy9 is excited to announce the launch of our <strong>annual Sustainable Solutions Challenge<\/strong> \u2013 a dynamic STEM competition designed to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This <strong>10-week programme<\/strong> gives pupils the chance to explore the world of sustainable engineering and make a real difference in their communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sustainable Solutions (VES)\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/725605325?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:49px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the Sustainable Solutions Challenge?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>More than just a competition, this is a <strong>journey of creativity and discovery<\/strong>. Over 10 weeks, teams of up to six pupils will design and build a <strong>sustainable road<\/strong>. It\u2019s hands-on, practical learning that brings STEM concepts to life while developing teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re proud to have <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.balfourbeatty.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.balfourbeatty.com\/\">Balfour Beatty <\/a>sponsoring the challenge for the second year running!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who Can Take Part?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>P6, P7, S1, S2, and S3 pupils<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In class or as part of an after-school club<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When?<\/strong><br>19 January \u2013 27 March 2026<br>Flexible scheduling for up to 10 hours based on your timetable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Professional Mentorship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every team\/school will be paired with an <strong>industry mentor<\/strong> who will share insights, guidance, and encouragement throughout the challenge. This is a unique opportunity for pupils to learn from real-world engineering and sustainability experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Road to the Final<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After weeks of innovation and collaboration, the most creative and effective projects will be shortlisted for the <strong>2026 Sustainable Solutions Final<\/strong>. Here, teams will present their ideas to a panel of judges and compete for the top prize!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Get Involved?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hands-On STEM Learning<\/strong> &#8211; Practical projects that make concepts real<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Teamwork &amp; Collaboration<\/strong> &#8211; Build essential communication and leadership skills<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Professional Guidance<\/strong> &#8211; Learn from experienced mentors<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sustainability Focus<\/strong> &#8211; Understand the importance of environmental stewardship<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recognition &amp; Rewards<\/strong> &#8211; Showcase your work and celebrate success<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Download Your Resource Pack &amp; Register Today!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We invite schools, teachers, and pupils to <strong>get started now<\/strong> by downloading the resource pack and registering your team. Together, let\u2019s inspire the next generation to think critically about sustainability and create a better future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 1: Register Your Team\/School<\/strong> <em>(if you haven&#8217;t already done so)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fdcfc74e wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/A9_SS2026_School\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Register Your Team<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 2: Download Your Resource Pack<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fdcfc74e wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/SustainableSolutionsPrimary\">Primary Resources<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fdcfc74e wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/SustainableSolutionsSecondary\">Secondary Resources<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:19px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 3: Get Started on your Challenge!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Academy9 Team can&#8217;t wait to see the Sustainable Solutions that you come up with!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Details of your industry mentor and how to submit your entry will be sent out via email to those teams that have officially registered for the competition in due course. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:28px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-attachment-id=\"5285\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/2023\/06\/14\/sustainable-solutions-roads-of-the-future-challenge-awards-ceremony-2023\/img_0166\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1700,1275\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.78&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 14 Pro Max&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1685542211&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;6.86&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.02&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_0166\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-300x225.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-1024x768.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-800x600.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166-400x300.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166.jpeg 1700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Academy9 Sustainable Solutions Challenge kicks off on the 19th of January 2026! Want to get involved? Academy9 is excited to announce the launch of our annual Sustainable Solutions Challenge \u2013 a dynamic STEM competition designed to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. This 10-week programme gives pupils the chance to explore the world of sustainable engineering and make a real difference in their communities. What is the<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/2026\/01\/08\/the-2026-sustainable-solutions-challenge-starts-now\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81923,"featured_media":5285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[885527,885532,885556,885547,885530,885537,885525,885531,885555],"class_list":["post-6457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-a9","tag-careers","tag-competition","tag-dyw","tag-educator","tag-industry","tag-learners","tag-stem-learning","tag-sustainability"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/academy9\/uploads\/sites\/3601\/2023\/06\/14111412\/IMG_0166.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81923"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6457"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6466,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6457\/revisions\/6466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/academy9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}